ELMONT, NY - MAY 31: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome with Jockey Victor Espinoza up trains at Belmont Park on May 31, 2014 in Elmont, New York. He is scheduled to race for the Triple Crown in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Photo: Al Bello, Getty Images

ELMONT, NY - MAY 31: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner...

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ELMONT, NY - MAY 31: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome with Jockey Victor Espinoza up, trains at Belmont Park on May 31, 2014 in Elmont, New York. He is scheduled to race for the Triple Crown in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Victor Espinoza sat in a chair next to David Letterman on Wednesday. California Chrome's jockey gave the late-night television legend a dose of his own dry humor.

The next morning, Espinoza stood on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as the connections of California Chrome rang the bell to open business.

"For me, it's just to go there and have fun," he said in the Belmont Park jockeys' room Thursday. "My job is here. That's different."

After enjoying the perks of riding a horse on the brink of the first Triple Crown since 1978, Espinoza will try to end the drought on California Chrome in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

Espinoza, a California-based rider, downplayed the expectations that go with being on the 3-5 morning-line favorite in front of a crowd that could exceed 100,000 fans.

"I think the only reason I don't have pressure is because I know it's tough," he said. "Thirty-something years (without a Triple Crown), so what's my chance? But I've had such a nice ride with this horse. Whatever happens Saturday is going to be extra."

Espinoza, who turned 42 in May, is getting a second chance at making history after falling short aboard War Emblem in 2002.

Like California Chrome, War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Then War Emblem broke poorly out of the starting gate in the Belmont Stakes and finished eighth.

The Mexican-born jockey said he's amazed to find himself on the cusp of racing immortality once more in a career that began as an apprentice rider at Golden Gate Fields. He has more than 3,100 career victories.

"Never in a million years did I think I'd be in this situation again," Espinoza said. "I just go day by day. Being a jockey, or in any sport, our careers go up and down. I started down, so when I'm down, I'm the same. It doesn't bother me a bit."

He said he's enjoying the attention more than he did with War Emblem a dozen years ago.

"This time it's different because I've been here before and I did things in a different way," Espinoza said. "I did things that I like to do. I'm also trying to help (promote) the race as much as I can."

He threw out the first pitch at the Yankees' game Monday along with California Chrome assistant trainer Alan Sherman.

Then came his turn on "The Late Show with Dave Letterman." The host, looking for expertise, asked Espinoza to compare War Emblem and California Chrome.

"That's tough," Espinoza said in a deadpan tone . "Two different horses and two different colors. War Emblem is black and California Chrome is brown."

That got a laugh and applause from the audience.

"He's got a comedic side to him that a lot of people don't know about," Brian Beach, Espinoza's agent, said. "He's such an even-tempered guy that nothing really rattles him. It's hard to wipe the smile off his face on a daily basis."

That was certainly the case when Espinoza first saw California Chrome at the Del Mar meet in August. He liked the horse with the white blaze and white feet and hoped for an opportunity to ride him.

That chance presented itself in December, when Espinoza replaced Alberto Delgado as the jockey. California Chrome hasn't lost in six starts since.

Trainer Dallas Stewart, who will saddle Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve in the Belmont, was impressed by Espinoza in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

"The kid has given (California Chrome) two superior rides," Stewart said. "He gives him a breather on the turn and then lets him kick it in at the quarter pole. Very smart."

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who conditioned War Emblem, said he likes Espinoza's chances of winning a Triple Crown this time.

There was a good omen Thursday. Espinoza earned his first victory at Belmont in 10 years on 1-2 favorite Doctor Dempsey, who was trained by Baffert.

Espinoza improved to 3-for-68 lifetime at Belmont Park.

"You can tell Victor is really enjoying it because he knows how difficult it is" to win a Triple Crown, Baffert said. "He knows he's on way the best horse and he's going to ride him that way."

Tim Wilkin contributed to this story

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